By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) -  Hundreds of Louisiana Christian University students, faculty  and staff spent the afternoon of March 25 serving the CENLA community. SENDLA, which is a phonetic play on the familiar CENLA for Central Louisiana, is rooted in the call of Matthew 28, where Jesus commands His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” LCU President Mark Johnson began the university’s first-ever SENDLA event with a campus-wide abbreviated chapel service, encouraging participants before everyone split into community groups. “We are going out sharing the Gospel in many ways, shapes and forms,” he said. Participating organizations included First Baptist Church, Pineville; Philadelphia Baptist Church Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria; Family of Grace Church, Alexandria; the Hope House, Alexandria; Fostering Community, Alexandria; Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Alexandria; Main Street Mission, Pineville; Rapides Parish Library System; CENLA Pregnancy Center, Alexandria; and Faith Baptist Church, Tioga. Johnson led a group of about 30 students who visited with residents in the neighborhood surrounding the campus. “It was good to see young people leading the way,” he said. … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff HINESTON, La. (LBM) – Former Rapides Parish Sheriff  William Earl Hilton died from injuries sustained from a hit-and run incident March 23 leaving a huge void in Central Louisiana and law enforcement community in the state. According to the RPSO, their office received a call just before 1 p.m. on Monday that a hit-and-run had taken place in the Hineston area. Hilton was found with severe injuries and was airlifted to Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria. The release went on to say the suspect intentionally fled the scene. Deputies and troopers attempted to make a traffic stop on LA 28 near Leavines Road but the suspect refused and left the scene at a high rate of speed. Following a high-speed chase with speeds of more than 100 mph, spike strips were deployed  on LA 28 near Cloverleaf Boulevard in Alexandria where the arrest of the suspect took place without further issue. Hilton, who was a member of Homewood Baptist Church, Alexandria, served in law enforcement for more than 50 years, including 16 years as RPSO sheriff. He also was a member of  the Louisiana National Guard for six years, and was inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame in 2006 and Louisiana Political Hall of … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ZACHARY, La. (LBM) – Women from across Louisi­ana will gather, April 17–18, at First Baptist Church, Zachary, for “Embrace,” a statewide Louisiana Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry con­ference designed to encour­age each attendee to recog­nize her God-given value and calling. Bible teacher and author Melissa Spoelstra will be the keynote speaker for the two-day event. Teaching from the book of Numbers, Spoelstra will offer lessons on content­ment and trusting God in every season of life. Hosted by the Louisiana Baptists Women’s Missions and Ministry team, “Em­brace” will seek to equip women of every generation and background to grow spir­itually and engage in God’s mission through the local church. “Our desire is for women to leave ‘Embrace’ confident in their God-given value and equipped to live out their purpose,” Louisiana Bap­tist Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist Christine Gill told the Baptist Message. “When women understand their calling and grow in their relationship with Christ, it strengthens families, church­es and communities.” General sessions will incorporate prayer, teaching and worship led by the FBC Zachary praise team. The event also will include the an­nual … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – For the past 13 years, Carlos Schmidt has fulfilled the Great Commission to Hispanics across the state. He has seen the number of Hispanic-speaking church­es grow from 25-55 and encouraged them to continue reaching their communities for Jesus. Now, Schmidt is set to retire, March 31, as a church planting strategist for Loui­siana Baptists. However, he will continue to pursue his passion for reaching the lost with El Renuevo, Lafayette, having served as pastor of the church since 2019. CALLED Born in the country of Colombia, Schmidt’s first exposure to life in Louisi­ana began when he was an exchange student with a Catholic family in Crowley. Though he did not know Christ at the time, he met his wife, Gwen, while living there. The two married and moved back to Colombia, where they lived until they decided to return to Louisi­ana in 1980. After returning to Louisiana, they experi­enced marital problems, which led Gwen to find peace via her fellowship with members of First Baptist Church, Rayne. Meanwhile, Schmidt was working as a helicopter mechanic with PHI Aviation in Lafayette. He also took a part-time job as a financial management and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MORGAN CITY, La. (LBM) – Churches in the state have embraced their mission to further the Gos­pel through establishment of hospitality rooms for law enforcement officers. Through their efforts, churches such as Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City, and Live Oak Baptist Church, Denham Springs, have built Christ-like relationships with po­licemen and policewomen in their areas. “Being in law enforce­ment, I knew some of the struggles,” Bayou Vista Baptist Church Pastor Ronnie Mabile told the Baptist Message. “I knew some of the pitfalls and I’ll always have a heart for those in the military, those who serve locally in local sheriffs and police depart­ments, and fire depart­ments. “It’s hard on them and they have a tough job, especially in today’s cli­mate,” he continued. “They don’t always see the best in people, and we wanted to show them the best we could by opening the room inside our church. “Our facilities are not ours; the facilities on the Lord,” he said. “So how can we not use our facili­ties to reach and minister to them?” Mabile spent eight years patrolling the highways and byways of Assumption Parish and after he re­signed still had a burden to reach … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Shane, wife Victoria, Russell is the new Outreach Minister at Wilda Baptist Church, Boyce. Mike, wife Phyllis, Freeman is the new minister of music at First Baptist Church, Marion. Michael Collins is the new pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Farmerville. Collin, wife Leslie, Carpenter has been called by Calvary Baptist Church, Ruston as the new youth pastor. Jeremy Babb is the new associate pastor at Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia. Clayton, wife Gracie, Bryan is the new pastor at Cheniere Baptist Church, West Monroe. Billy, wife Linda, Edwards is the new pastor at Marksville Baptist Church, Marksville. Aaron Coffey is the new pastor at New Sarepta Baptist Church, Sarepta. Evan Griffin to be ordained into the ministry March … [Read more...]